Invest in me & I make money for you – General Salim Saleh tells MUBS Graduates

General Salim Saleh delivered a commencement lecture at Makerere University Business School 10th graduation ceremony where 1182 were passed out with certificates and diplomas in different courses on 29th May 2015.

The adviser to the President of Uganda on military matters presented the lecture on the topic; “Creating employment and wealth through agriculture as a business”.

The former Ugandan Minister of State for Microfinance and a high-ranking Military officer in the UPDF advised fresh graduates to invest in his agricultural model so that he makes money for them because majority look at farming as a dirty venture and luck skills.

“I have not heard of a student graduating with a certificate related to agriculture or tractor maintenance at this graduation, so how do you expect me to turn these graduates into agriculture, the best idea is for them to invest in me so that I make money for them”, the general pointed out.

He however put the blame on the education institutions that are not teaching relevant skills needed for the current job market.

“Agriculture is not prioritized at primary level, even in secondary schools it is not compulsory, so how do you expect to turn someone who is already off the truck into agriculture, I do not have kind words for the education system in Uganda”, he said.

He also highlighted the other challenges scaring graduates from venturing into agriculture.

“Many of the graduates do not own land and the parents who have the land don’t want to give it out to their sons and daughters when they are still alive”.

Secondly he said there is lack of inputs and technologies for agro processing.

He also blamed the financial institutions that are selective on funding agricultural projects.

“When finance institutions look at agriculture as the riskiest venture, how do you expect these graduates to get funds for start up?”

The general pointed out that if agriculture is prioritized, the sector can create many jobs for Ugandans.

Below is a video showing General Salim Saleh delivering a commencement lecture at MUBS 10th graduation ceremony 2015.

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